SoutheastHEALTH to Hold NICU Reunion

October 03, 2014

Are you a graduate of our Southeast Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit? If so, join us for a special NICU Reunion on Saturday, Oct. 25, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Discovery Playhouse, 502 Broadway, in Cape Girardeau.

Visit with neonatologist Paul Caruso, MD, and the NICU team of caregivers. The event will include entertainment and crafts for kids. Children will have the opportunity to meet some favorite “princes and princesses.”

Visitors will be able to explore the children’s museum, including the “Southeast Healthy Beginnings” exhibit, which is filled with entertaining items for future doctors and nurses. Refreshments will be served.

Southeast Hospital ushered in a new era in neonatal care this summer. The family-centered unit replaces an older facility. The new unit consists of eight single-family suites, creating private areas for families to bond with their babies. The well-baby nursery and family waiting room also were renovated as part of the project.

The area is designed to keep noise levels to a minimum and has subdued lighting. The unit has a world-class neonatal monitoring system. Another new feature is the addition of a NICVIEW camera system, which provides a secure video link for families to check on their infants around the clock.

Neonatologist Paul A. Caruso, MD, discusses some of the NICU’s new features with staff nurses Amy Beussink, Ashley Bowers and Chris Sirimaturos.